Snowflake 7 & 8 "turned out nice again!"

Published 19:15 on 23 Feb 2026

Torrential rain greeted competitors as they arrived for the seventh and eighth races of the Snowflake Series, though the forecast offered some encouragement. As predicted, the rain eased shortly before the first start, revealing a steady westerly breeze of around 15 knots. Earlier gusts in the low twenties had moderated, leaving conditions that were lively but manageable across all fleets.

Race Officer Michael Olliff set a trapezoidal course, with the committee boat positioned midchannel towards Coperas and the windward mark laid near Birdham. With the tide running, early tactical choices centred on whether to seek relief in the lee of Birdham Marina or stay further out in the stronger breeze.

The fast fleet pressed the line assertively in Race 7 but got away cleanly. The medium fleet, slightly too eager, earned a general recall before settling into their restart. On the first lap, many boats sought the shelter of the marina to escape the tide, but the wind proved softer inshore. By the second lap, most competitors had adjusted, favouring the fuller breeze in the main channel.

Downwind, the conditions rewarded confident handling. Boats with spinnakers enjoyed fast, controlled planing runs, with the reaches providing occasional surges as gusts swept across the course. During the second race, the weather transformed completely. The sun broke through, the breeze held fresh and steady, and the harbour delivered the kind of crisp, bright conditions that make winter sailing so rewarding.

The final event of the snowflake series will be on 8th March the race starts at 1400.

Fast Fleet Results

Race 7

The fast fleet produced a tightly contested correctedtime result:

• 1st Jack Holden (RS400 1550) delivered a wellpaced race to take the win.
• 2nd Jon Gorringe & Lorna Glen (RS400 1555) followed less than a minute behind on corrected time.
• 3rd Ben & Roz McGrane (Merlin Rocket 3739) completed the podium with another consistent showing.

Race 8

The steadier breeze in the second race reshuffled the order:

• 1st Henderson & Videlo (RS200 1636) sailed an excellent race to take the win.
• 2nd Ben & Roz McGrane (MR 3739) continued their strong day.
• 3rd Jack Holden (RS400 1550) remained firmly in the leading group.

Medium Fleet Results

Race 7

The medium fleet produced some of the closest correctedtime racing of the day:

• 1st Jonathan & Matthew Bailey (2000 2322) took the win with a welljudged sail.
• 2nd Adrian & Roz Stell (2000 2212) finished just nine seconds behind on corrected time.
• 3rd Thomas Twist (RS Aero 7 4683) secured third, keeping the Aero firmly in contention.

Race 8

The 2000s dominated the second race:

• 1st Adrian & Roz Stell (2000 2212)
• 2nd Jonathan & Matthew Bailey (2000 2322)
• 3rd Iain & Sarah Yardley (2000 2204)

Slow Fleet Results

The slow fleet had a single competitor, but Charlie Hunt (RS Tera Pro 2392) delivered two tidy, wellexecuted race

Series Standings After Eight Races

With three discards applied, the standings now show clear leaders heading into the final event.

Fast Fleet

• 1st Jack Holden (RS400 1550, 6 points)
• 2nd Henderson & Videlo (RS200 1636, 15 points)
• 3rd Yeoman & team (Merlin Rocket 3777, 20 points)

A tightly packed group follows, with several boats still able to move into the top five depending on the final days results.

Medium Fleet

• 1st Adrian & Roz Stell (2000 2212, 6 points)
• 2nd Alex Butler (Solo 5781, 9 points)
• 3rd Mark Riddington (RS Aero 7 3656, 15 points)
• 4th Iain & Sarah Yardley (2000 2204, 16 points)

The top four remain close enough for positions to change on the final weekend.

Slow Fleet

• 1st Charlie Hunt (RS Tera Pro 2392, 3 points)